Rail tie



J. T. ROHM NO v. 22, 1927.'

RAIL TIE Filed May 28, 1927 niv oo l I E 1. nl.: ,Ha. a r x H w .f l l /H :M1 TTM. :.@IT l. V w /T H |l| ,l a 4 1| l l... H

FIG. 2

FIB. B

his cutomeg Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES *PATENT OFFICE.` l

JAMES T. ROHM, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F vOIhl'E-TIVIIRD TO HER- BERT H. ASHMAN, OF PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD T0 JAMES IB. SIPE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.`

RAIL TIE.

Application med Mayas,

This invention relates to a metallic rail tie for use in anchoring and supporting rails in road beds ot railways. The general object of the invent-ion is to provide a metallic railway tie which is of relatively light construction, which supports the rails by means of Y resilient supporting members, and in which the rail ris electrically insulated from the body of the tie. y

One speciiic object of the invention is to provide a railway tie comprising clamping means so constructed and arranged that-'the rails may be readily shifted inwardly or'outwardly the slight distance necessary to provide the desired variation ot' gage on curves, and to permit straightening of the track, if the rails have been irregularly laid initially. Another specific object of the invention is to provide electric insulation between the rail and the clamping portion of the rail tie so arranged that it does notbear the weight of the rail and is not susceptible to wear or Y abrasion thereby. v

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a metallic rail tie in which the clamping members serve to cover the entire open length of a body or trough member, withoutproducing a tie structure of suol weight as to render its cost excessive.

In the accompanying drawings'Figure 1 is a plan view of the rail tie of the present invention, showing both rails of a track locked in position thereon; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tie, andv corresponds with the showing of Figure l; Figure 3 is a. vertical sectional view through a` portion of the tie, showing the attachment of one rail thereto taken on the line 3,-8 of Fig. 1; igure 4'is an end view of the tieand rail; and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through one ot the insulating plates of the structure and the means tor attaching it to the rail engaging portion of oneV of the rail clamping y.

members of the tie.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a trough shaped metallic vtie body, Y which is desirably rolled from soft open hearthrsteel and is Slightly rounded at the 5 juncture ot' its sides and base. This body resilient material, which project a vshort distance above the upper edge otV the ksides of vthe trough or body member 1.v The rails 3 'the trough or body member 1.

has therein blocks 2 of wood orother suitable Y 1927. A serial No. 194,902.

.these blocks 2.

The tie structure also comprises end clamping members, designated generally by Y the reference numeral 4, each of which comprises a top plate 5, depending 4skirts 6 and a rail engaging tongue or extension 7. Each of the skirts 6 of a clamp has therein a slot 8, which match with slots 9 in the sides of A 'wedge member 10 is adapted to be driveninto these slots to the desired extent to secure the clamping member 4 to the trough member 1, and to cause the rail engaging portion 7 of the clamping member to closely engage one side of therail 3. In order that the wedge 10 maybe held in position for close engageing holesll for the reception ot relatively heavy cotter pins 11a of copper, brass, or other suitable metal. f

The rails are also held in position by means of central clamps, which are designated generally by the reference numeral 12. These clamps each comprise a top plate 13,

vskirts 14 arranged to depend along the sides ot' theV trough or body member, and rail engaging portions 15. ,The skirts 14 of the clamps 12 are provided with aligned slotsl 16 matching with slots 17in the sides of the trough or body member. A similar wedge k10, provided with locking holes 1l and a cotter pin lla'serves to lock this clamping member in position on the body of the tie to bear firmly against the inner side ofthe rail. It

will be vobserved that the positioning of this second wedge is opposite to that of the similar `wedge which cooperates with an' end clamp 4. Y l v Y j It will be noted that the central clamping members 12 extend Va sufficient distance to entirely cover the portion of the trough or body member 1 which lies between the rails, and that they overlap slightly. In order to secure the overlapping effect, one of the central clamps is flared, as indicated atlS, to embrace the end of the other clamp.

Since eachlof the clampsvpresses on one side of the rail, and since these clamps are independently secured to the trough member, they provide a ready transverse adjustment of the rail on the tie. In order to make 7o y ment it is provided with a plurality of locksuch an adjustment it is necessary `merelyto remove the cotter pins 11a, and to drive out.

the clamping members 10. The rail may then be shifted to the desired degree, and the clamping members 10 again driven in. vt will be noticed that the slots 9 in the sides of the trough or body member 1 are of suflicient width to permit of a material adjustment of the rail on the tie` Because of the longitudinal extent of the central clamping members 12, the entire length of the trough or body member 1 is covered. rlhis prevents the entrance of moisture, and of other undesired material into the trough member, and also avoids leaving any aperture which might engage the foot of a pedestrian or any object depending beneath the passing train. Because of the overlapping of these central clamps 12 by means of the flare 18 on one of them, they are firmly held in place against springing by the mutual wedging action between tnem. As all the clamping members 'may be lmade of thin gage metal, metal of no more than three-eighths inches thickness being satisfactory, the covering of the trough and the vinteremgagement of the central clamps is obtained without so increasing the weight of the ties as to render them difficult to handle or unduly expensive to manufacture.

It is desirable that the tie and the rail be electrically insulated from each other, in order to prevent grounding of any electrical circuit in which the rail is utilized as a conductor. If, as is shown, the rail support consists of a block of wood vor other suitable resilient material, this block in itself 'serves as an insulation. In order to Ainsulate `the clamping members from the rail,plates 19 of fibre, rubber composition, or other suitable electrical insulating material, are interposed between the rail engaging portions of the clamp and the rail itself. It is important from the point of view of safety, that these insulating plates be so held that they cannot shift between the clamp and the rail, and that they should be interposed in such position that they are not subject to wear or abrasion, which might loosen the 'engagement between the clamps and the rail.

It is also desirable for convenience in shipping and assembling the tiesthat Ithe insulating plates be directly attached to the rail engaging portions of the clamps For this reason each of the plates 19 is attached to the rail engaging portion of the 'clamp with which it is associated by means of one or more plugs 2O of fibre, or other suitable electrical insulating material which is relatively firm 'and tough. rlhese plugs 20 are held to the insulating plate 19 by means of rivets or the like 21.

In order to completely close the tie structure, en d blocks 22, of wood or other suitable material may be inserted, as shown.

yThe rail tie of the present invention presents the advantages of being strong and light, of being completely closed on its up-v per surface, of permitting a ready ,adjustment to permit such slight shifting of the rails as may arise in practice, and provides satisfactory insulation between the rails and the rail tie.

What l claim is:

1. A rail tie comprising a metallic trough member, a rail support of resilient material in said trough and extending above the sides thereof, two metallic rail clamps arranged to be disposed one on each side of a rail and having skirts depending along `the sides of the trough member, and oppositely inclined wedging members, one passing through matching slotsin the trough member and one of the clamps' and the other passing v through matching slots in the trough meInber and the other of the clamps.1

2. A rail tie comprising a metallic trough member, a rail support of resilient material in said trough and extending above the sides thereof, Va metallic rail clamp having shirts depending along the sides of the trough, means for mutually securing the lskirts of the clamping member to the sides of the trough, a rail engaging portion on the clamp, a platel of electrical insulating material between the rail engaging portion of the clamp and the rail, and a plug of relatively firm and tough insulating material interconnecting the plate of insulating material 4and the 1tail engaging portion of the clamp.

3. A rail tie vcomprising a metallic trough member, a rail support of resilient materialin said trough and extending above the sides thereof, two metallic rail clamps arranged one on each side of a rail land having skirts depending along the lsides of the trough member, oppositely inclined wedging members, one passing through matching slots in the trough member and one of the clamps and the other passing through matching slots in the trough member and the other of the clamps, a rail engaging portion on each of the clamps, a plate of electrical insulating material between the rail engaging portion of each clamp and the rail, and a plug of relatively firm and tough insulating material interconnecting the plate of insulating maf,

of Vsaid clamps and the sides of the trough, l

two central rail clamps wholly covering the portion of the trough member lying between the rails, and means for securing said central rail clamps tc the trough member.

5. A rail tie comprising a metallic trough* member, rail supports of resilient material in said trough and extending above the si'des thereof, end rail clamps having skirts depending along the sides of the trough member, means for mutually securing the skirts of said clamps and the sides of the trough, two central rail clamps wholly covering the portion of the trough member lying between the rails, said central clamps having a mutual Wedging engagement, and means for securing said central clamps to the sides of the trough.

6. A rail tie comprising a metallic trough member, rail supports ot' resilient vmaterial in said trough member and extending above the sides thereof, end rail clamps having skirts depending along the sides of the trough member, means for mutually securing the skirts of said clamps and the sides of the trough, two central rail clamps wholly covering the portion of the trough member lying between the rails, means for securingl said central rail clamps to the sides of the trough, a plate of electrical insulating material carried by the rail engaging portion 7. A rail tie comprising a metallic trough i member, rail supports O resilient `material in said trough member and extending above the sides thereof, end rail clamps having skirts depending along the sides of the trough member, means for mutually securing the skirts of said clamps and the sides of the trough, two central rail clamps wholly covering the portion of the trough member lying between the rails, said central clamps having a mutual wedging engagement,

means for securing' said central clamps to the sides of the trough, a plate of electrical insulating material carried by the rail engaging portion of yeach rail clamp, and a plug of relatively lirm and toughinsulating material attaching each of said plates to the rail engaging portion of a clamp.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set hand.

JAMES T. ROI-IM. 

